The ongoing National Guard deployment in Washington, DC is illegal, a district judge ruled on Thursday in a continuation of the war between Donald Trump and the judicial system.
Troops were first deployed to the nation’s capital on August 11, 2025 as the president sought to crackdown on rising violent crime in the District of Columbia.
Now more than three months later, the issue is still being fought in the courts.
Judge Jia Michelle Cobb of the District Court for DC ruled that the Trump administration violated DC’s Home Rule Act by deploying units for non-military crime deterrence operations.
Her ruling handed down on Thursday placed a 21 day stay on the order, allowing for continued troop presence until December 11, 2025. Meaning if enforced, troops could be home with 14 days left until Christmas.
This story is breaking and will be updated.
A district judge ruled on Thursday, November 20, 2025 that Trump can no longer keep National Guard troops in Washington DC for crime-deterrence operations
